Signaling its intention to dramatically accelerate its growth as a real tech innovator and deliver the best in digital real estate services, Williston Financial Group (“WFG”) named industry icon Steve Ozonian as its president and chief operating officer. Patrick Stone will remain the company’s chairman and CEO. The Williston Financial Group family is one of the nation’s fastest growing real estate service providers and title insurance companies, growing from a start-up in 2010 to the nation’s sixth largest underwriting firm by market share in 2015. WFG has been supported throughout its existence by Golden Gate Capital, a major fund based in San Francisco.
Ozonian moves into his new role with WFG after serving on its Board of Directors for three years. As President and COO, his strategic focus will be on the acceleration and growth of the company’s national footprint, with a special focus on creating and delivering a new generation of real estate-related services and technology. WFG’s ultimate goal will remain the elimination of time and cost from the real estate transaction, while increasing transparency and empowerment to the lender, REALTOR and consumer.
Ozonian’s achievements as a leader in the real estate and mortgage industry are well-chronicled. Over the course of a career deep in operational experience, he has engineered the dramatic growth of multiple real estate related businesses. As a senior executive at Chicago Title & Trust, he headed the real estate services segment which acquired and sold thousands of homes a year. As an executive vice president with Coldwell Banker, Ozonian helped build the company to 70,000 sales associates. With Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Ozonian, as chairman and CEO, expanded annual sales volume to more than $200 billion. Ozonian is perhaps best-known for building the world’s most successful real estate research portal during his time as CEO of realtor.com®. He has also served Bank of America as its National Homeownership Executive. Ozonian has additionally served on the boards of LendingTree, Global Mobility Solutions, Realty Mogul and RealtyTrac.
“Steve Ozonian’s appointment signals a new era for WFG, and I am ecstatic to have him aboard,” says Patrick Stone, Chairman & CEO of WFG. “He has an unparalleled track record in growing real estate services through the use of new technology, ingenuity and creativity, and brings an understanding of market dynamics that will help WFG position itself for the future of the industry. On a personal level, Steve has been a close friend and confidant, as well as an active member of the WFG Board of Directors. There will be no lag time on Steve making a contribution to the success of this company.”
“WFG is poised to lead an agenda for change, improving services within the real estate and mortgage industry,” says Ozonian. “It’s an honor to be entrusted with the task of guiding Pat Stone’s and Golden Gate’s vision to fruition. My role is to strengthen WFG’s strategic position as an agent for change for lenders, Realtors and other real estate-related businesses. We will do that using digital tools, previously-unseen processes, and, above all, a philosophy that creates an aggressive vision to eliminate time and cost from the transaction and provides a best-in-class transaction to all.
For more information, visit www.WFGNationalTitle.com.
